CAIRO - "I'm an Egyptian against terrorism", "I'm a Muslim and I Love Christians, I'm a Christian and I Love Muslims", "Egyptians 80,000,000" and "On January 7, we will go to churches to celebrate with Copts or to die with them". These were not slogans raised by political activists agonised by a deadly blast outside a church in Alexandria. They are the names of new groups set up by Egyptians on the most popular social networking website Facebook to denounce the “cowardly attack” as a one group founder wrote. Most of these groups announced public mourning over the attack at the Two Saints Church. "We, Egyptians, are in grief over those killed in the cowardly act in Alexandria. We all shout against this spark of sedition, which could lead to destruction," one subscriber wrote on the group "I'm Egyptian against terrorism". The group, which uses a photo of the Cross and the Crescent referring to Egypt's national unity between Muslims and Christians, is leading a campaign against those who wanted to incite sectarianism in this country of 80 willion people. Another group, "I'm a Muslim and I love Christians and I'm a Christian and I love Muslims" uploaded photos urging Egyptians from both religions to advocate interests of their nation. Protests by Christians and clashes with the police that erupted after Saturday's attack, which killed 21, mostly Copts, could worsen and plunge Egypt into a new spiral of sectarian violence, according to a third group named "Egyptians 80,000,000". “Egyptians 80,000,000”, has drawn the attention of more than 27,000 subscribers, who forwarded some suggestions to overcome any kind of strife. "We know that some criminals have thrown seeds of sedition. However, we are all ready to uproot them," read the homepage of the group. Among the proposals to defuse potential sedition between Muslims and Christians, some Egyptian bloggers belonging to this group have launched a campaign for Muslims to surround churches on January 7 with their hands joined together. "Muslims are ready to attend sermons in churches on (Coptic) Christmas to protect Copts with their blood and souls," said one subscriber on the group.
